Police said surveillance photos led them to arrest Ronald Szettella, 43. Investigators said they found a helmet, shoes, clothes and a BB gun that looks like a real handgun at Szettella's house, and the evidence tied him to three felony charges.

"In September of 2013, Mr. Szetella called in a bomb threat," Lt. Ann Perriello said. "He used a payphone in Lowell, Massachusetts, and our detectives were able to get video footage from multiple businesses."

Police said a man riding a motorcycle and wearing a red helmet could be seen on Route 38 stopping at the payphone at about the same time Pelham Elementary School received the call.

In September, someone robbed the Gage Hill Farm convenience store wearing a motorcycle helmet. Police said that during their search of Szettella's home, they found evidence connecting him to another armed robbery at the same Pelham store a year earlier.

"I knew him as a customer," said Dave Bergeron, manager of Gage Hill Farm. "I knew his face. He was a regular here. But a lot of people knew him. His kids hung out with their families. It was kind of surprising."

According to court document, police said Szettella told them he had been laid off more than once since 2013 and was a drug addict. Police said he told them he called in the bomb threat to his children's school in the hope they would be released early, and he could spend time with them.

"I think it really tells us how far someone will go just to make a custody arrangement work in his favor," Perriello said. "The fact they are not even considering the fear they are creating in a community when they are making that phone call."

Police said they believe they have also connected Szettella to two armed robberies in neighboring Salem, including one in which the robber wore a President Barack Obama mask.

"I've known him for years," Pelham resident Daniel Britt said. "He actually mowed my lawn. I never expected it from a person like him, but I guess things do change."

Salem police said additional charges for that robbery and others are coming, and they are looking into other open cases to see if there are any connections.